Live It Articles One Accord In One Place

Acts 2:1 "........they were all with one accord in one place. " (KJV)

Six weeks ago at 5:00 a.m., we began an adventure in our First Place group at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, MS, that has affected our entire community.

We began a Fitness Boot Camp in one of our city parks. When people come together with a common goal and work as a team, there is a certain power among the group. At the First Place Boot Camp, we have had an Acts 2:1 experience of being "with one accord in one place." Lives are being changed. There are 83 people in Meridian who are experiencing new attitudes spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Even though they are all at different fitness levels and came to the Boot Camp for different reasons, we all work together as a team for a common cause. Teamwork changes individuals.

What is a Fitness Boot Camp? It is an hour of high intensity strength and cardio vascular training. We have Boot Camp at 5:00 a.m., because most of us have to be at work, thus we work extra fast to finish and get to work on time. We begin with 15 minutes of strength exercises with intensity, side straddle hops, toe touches, push ups, leg lifts, etc., just your standard old-fashioned P.E. type exercises. Then we have 45 minutes of cardio vascular workout. Some people run this workout; others walk, depending on their fitness level and what they came to Boot Camp to achieve.

The first week we did two mile workouts in 45 minutes. This morning (beginning the sixth week) they were up to four and five miles in the 45 minute workout

We begin each workout with a prayer, and say a blessing over our workout for the day. We thank God that we are moving more today than we did yesterday. We thank Him that we are getting into Kingdom condition and FIT for Jesus.

It is a glorious sight to be running, and look back down the hill to see a group of 83 "with one accord" moving for Him, as the sun rises over our city.

Our Boot Camp is at the halfway point this week. We have six more weeks remaining. We have set goals as a group. Many of them participated in a 5K Run/two mile walk Friday night. One of the best runners turned in a time of 26 minutes for her first 5k. The next race coming up in October is a 10K/three mile walk that we will participate in as a group.

I would like to invite some of you to join us for our next group goal.   You will have a year and four months to prepare and train. Our long range goal is for First Place members from all over the country to meet in Houston, TX (home of our First Place national office) January 2006, to run or walk the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon. A marathon is 26.2 miles and a half marathon is 13.1 miles. Check out the race information for 2005 at http://www.hphoustonmarathon.com . This coincides with the 25 th anniversary of First Place. We are looking to the year 2006 to come together "with one accord and in one place." This will give you a year to prepare.

If you would like to join us and become part of the team, email me and I will count you in. If you would like information about how to start your own Fitness   Boot Camp, I will gladly help you get started.

God bless and keep you!

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer


Beverly Henson is a conference and rally speaker for the First Place ministry. She is also a Bible teacher and certified personal trainer. Beverly joined First Place in July 1997 and has lost 160 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is the First Place Director and the Director of Wellness Ministries at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, MS.. She is also an area Networking Leader for First Place in Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.